Tt eSports Black FP Gaming Mouse Review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing3. Tt eSports Black FP gaming mouse4. Testing5. Final Thoughts6. View All Pages

Thermaltake released the Tt eSports Black mouse way back in 2010 and we were big fans of it even then, but times change and the world of peripherals has certainly moved on since. So what has Thermtaltake done to make this new version, the Tt eSports Black FP different from its predecessor?

While the shell and name may look familiar, what is under the hood is not. The laser sensor has been upgraded to an AVAGO 9500, the buttons are now built with long-life OMRON switches, but the big change is the new security measure built in to the left hand panel: a finger print scanner.

The idea behind the scanner is that you can use this mouse to unlock your PC and login to websites, instead of inputting a password. All fingerprint data is encrypted to 256bit, so should be near impossible to crack and the scanner is FIDO UAF certified so you know it is accurate.

Specifications

• Colour: Black.
• Shape: Ergonomic.
• No. of buttons: Seven.
• No. of game profiles: Five.
• USB cable length: 1.8m.
• Cable header: Gold plated.
• Additional weights: Five x 4.5g.
• Dimensions: 121 x 69 x 41 mm.
• Lighting colours: Red.
• Lighting effects: Static and pulse.

 

The box for the Tt eSport Black FP mouse is quite typical of your average gaming box. It has a large picture of the rodent itself, alongside some basic specifications.

It even flips open to let you get a better look at the mouse, as well as showing some keyed diagrams to break down some of the more interesting features. The back goes into further detail about the fingerprint scanner the mouse offers as one of its unique features.

 

Along with the mouse, you also receive a couple of booklets, one to help with set up and the other with warranty data. You also get a couple of stickers for those that like to declare their allegiance to their mouse manufacturer.

The Tt eSports Black FP looks very, very similar to the original Black design from 2010, that for a moment had this reviewer wondering if he had been sent an old model. Never fear though, this is very much the real deal as you will soon see.

Like its original inspiration, the Black FP features a matte black, pearlescent paint job, accented with some red styling in a few key places. The back features a translucent Tt eSports logo, which shines through when the mouse is powered on.

On the rear-left hand side, there is a black indicator too, which lights up with LEDs to tell you which DPI step you have selected.

The left hand side features a pair of additional buttons, though no specific thumb grip. Instead it has a bulge in the plastic, which sits neatly against your thumb when using a palm grip. This mouse is definitely designed with that style of hold in mind, though does seem to work with finger grips too.

At the front of the left hand side is the fingerprint sensor, which we will cover more in the testing section.

On the right, there is very little to mention, save for a small indent, which I did not personally use, but could potentially act as a shallow finger rest.

At the front end of the Tt eSports Black FP there are the usual twin left/right click buttons, as well as a rubber-ridged scroll wheel and a pair of DPI selectors, which let you go up or down the scale at the touch of a button.

The underside of the mouse has a centrally located laser sensor (AVAGO 9500), with four corner mounted unbranded Teflon mouse feet. At the rear of the underside is where the weight compartment can be found. The panel pops off with a quick press, giving you access to the FP's underbelly.

It is here that you can alter the amount of extra weight in the mouse, though only by 22.5g in total, so it is not a huge swing in either direction but can certainly be made noticeable.

The mouse cable is braided to a nice standard and has an included cable tie.

Methodology

To test the Tt eSports Black FP gaming mouse, I put it through its paces in a variety of games from different genres, as well as using it for general office tasks like web browsing, media viewing and photo editing. While in use, I took note of its accuracy and speed, as well as comfort and the overall functionality of its additional features and back end software.

Gaming

Several aspects are important for a gaming mouse. Is it easy to hold for long periods of time? Is it capable of moving quickly and tracking accurately? And does it provide additional functionality for certain situations? The Tt eSports Black FP ticks all those boxes and does a good job of accurately reproducing real world movements in game.

Thanks to its use of the AVAGO 9500 sensor, it is fast and accurate whether moving quickly or slowly in different games and scenarios. It is arguably best suited for a palm, or finger grip style of hold, rather than a claw grip, but can be used with all styles.

The laser sensor too makes it possible to play with this mouse on just about any surface, so if you do not have a mouse mat handy, never fear – it works just fine without one.

Sensitivity wise, the Black FP does not have the highest head room, in that it maxes out at just shy of 6,000 DPI. We have tested mice in the past that get well into five digits of sensitivity, which for this writer was always way, way too much. I like a good 3-4,000 DPI so this mouse suits me fine, but it is worth bearing in mind that if you like your mouse ultra sensitive, this one might not be able to deliver.

One area you can customise to your heart's content though is the weight. Gamers who like a slightly heavier mouse will be able to take advantage of the included weight pucks, which can add as much as 22.5g extra to the weight of the Black FP. It is not a huge amount, but is certainly noticeable, especially in how it changes the centre of mass to slightly further forward, which could be useful for claw and finger grippers who prefer their finger tips to control the movement, rather than the palm.

While general gaming ability was strong with the FP, I was not a huge fan of the button mapping at default. The profile switch is one that I rarely use personally, but I do find occasional use for the DPI switch, so would rather that was closer to the front and within easier reach.

Fortunately then they are entirely remappable, so you can customise what goes where to your heart's content.

General usage

Much like it performs during gaming, the Black FP is a solid operator in general office tasks. As a personal preference I prefer more ambidextrous, lower profile mice as I am a finger/claw gripper at heart, but this one works absolutely fine and is perfectly controllable with the various grip forms.

The side buttons are mounted in a way that they can be pressed with a rocking motion, which makes them much more useful in general tasks. You can map something to them that helps you out in photo editing, or use them as the default forward/back browser function. As an extra feature, when pressing those particular buttons, indicators appear on screen (similar to DPI selection) that lets you know what function they are performing.

One aspect I was not too fond of though was the noise the mouse makes. While it might tout Omron switches, the mouse's left/right buttons are rather loose, which means there is a hollow ‘rattle‘, for want of a better word. This is less pronounced if you keep your finger in contact with the mouse button after release, but it is still present and is rather annoying.

While also present in game, it is far less noticeable with a pair of gaming headphones on, or when you are concentrating on the action. When you are multi-clicking for some adjusments in Photoshop though, it is much more apparent and mildly irritating.

Fingerprint Sensor

The most unique feature of this mouse is its fingerprint sensor, which can link up with Windows Hello and offer fingerprint logins for any number of websites and services. While there are some fingerprint sensors that I have run into issues with in the past, namely smartphone implementations, this one works really well. It logs you in to Windows without difficulty and once it has a few websites saved, it can cut back on a lot of typing or copy and pasting.

It does occasionally require an adjustment of your thumb or finger placement, but for the most part works very well indeed and does give this mouse an interesting level of functionality that you will not find anywhere else.

I particularly like how the security software for it lets you customise each login within its vault, as well as providing back ups and secret questions should you lock yourself out. Although I would not necessarily rank Thermaltake up there with the great password security companies of the world, purportedly all passwords are stored in hashed 256bit encrypted files, so they are pretty secure from third party interference.

Additional features

Lighting on the Black FP is nice to have, though the single colour is hardly revolutionary. There is a basic breathing effect on the rear logo, but since this is under your palm most of the time, it feels a little redundant.

The driver software for the Black FP was relatively easy to use and offers a few functions which are useful. The ability to remap keys is easy, though the drop down interface is a little clunky. Macro recording was simple and functional and I enjoyed the ability to link certain games to certain buttons.

Something I did not enjoy though was the time it took to download. For whatever reason, Thermaltake's Tt eSports title decided to locate its file servers on Mars or somewhere equally far away, as the maximum download rate I was able to achieve on a 40Mb fiber connection, was 50KBps. That is original broadband speeds guys. It is like stepping back in time.

There were also a few finnicky aspects to it when finally downloaded and installed, like certain features applying before you hit apply and in one case the y axis sensitivity being drastically reduced without me touching any options. Clearly Thermaltake needs to spend a bit more time with its back end software.

For a mouse that has not changed its look since the original was released back in 2010, the Tt eSports Black FP holds up rather well. It is still a comfortable, ergonomic design that may lack a few features here and there, but for the most part offers a solid all round package at its price point.

Ergonomically it is not my favourite design in the world – personally I prefer ambidextrous, lower profile layouts – but the Black FP works well with all grip types and is certainly comfortable over long periods. I feel like a couple of rubber patches for finger and thumb rests would be nice – like the original – but maybe that is just me.

The AVAGO 9500 sensor was an excellent choice, with the laser proving to be fast and accurate across a variety of surfaces. It also lets you adjust the DPI in steps of 100, so you can really customise it up to the maximum 5,700 DPI.

The button layout is decent and there are remapping options for those who would rather customise what does what, or you can load in or record a macro of your choice for more complicated commands. Although the back end software has a few quirks and takes a while to download, that is also where you can adjust sensitivity, tweak the basic lighting options and even link profiles with specific applications.

The real unique feature with the Black FP though is its fingerprint sensor and it works really, really well. Although I'm sure it's not expensive, it's a neat little feature that I'd like to see in other mice or peripherals.

Overall the Tt eSport Black FP is a solid little gaming mouse that might have some mildly irritating button rattle, but is a good all round package. However it has stiff competition at this price point, especially the likes of my favourite gaming mouse, the Ozone Ocelote, so consider well before buying.

No UK release has been announced for the Black FP, but we can estimate its price based on the $60 U.S. tag. With a direct dollar conversion and 20 per cent added on top for VAT, we are looking at around £60.

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Pros

• Great sensor – AVAGO 9500 laser.
• Built in fingerprint sensor with Windows Hello compatibility works really well.
• Adjustable weights, sensitivity.
• Remappable buttons and macro recording functionality.
• Comfortable over long periods.

Cons

• Some button rattle on release.
• Lighting is basic.
• Back end functionality is a little bit finicky.
• At this price point is has stiff competition.

KitGuru Says: While a decent all round package, the price point this mouse sits in is so competitive, you would need to be a real fan of the fingerprint sensor to pick it over many of its more well rounded contemporaries. 

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